Published by the History Watch Project

Howard Zinn (1922-2010)

“If those in charge of our society - politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television - can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in their power. They will not need soldiers patrolling the streets. We will control ourselves.”

The Price of Politics on Kenya

Roads and Political Choices

By Bonnie Bates. There is one main road that links northern Kenya with Ethiopia. With the arrival of the long rains season (March to May), this road becomes a deep muddy river. Transport trucks sink up to their axles in the mud, and all traffic must wait for the road to dry before continuing – which can take days or even weeks, depending on the weather. Despite this road being a problem for decades, the government has never taken action to address it. Some speculate this is because the region supported the British during the fight for Kenyan independence. Others believe it is because the area is largely Muslim. No matter the reason, this road could have been rebuilt by Kenyan workers. Instead, the contract has been awarded to a Chinese company, part of China’s growing presence in Africa. Wonder what the Kenyan government is giving China in return?

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Currently working towards a Masters in History and African Studies at Carleton University, my areas of interest include North African and Saharan history, gender, identity, culture, politics and language.